Container for washing stockings



Nov. 18, 1952 C Y. 2,618,143

CONTAINER F( )R WASHING STOCKINGS Filed July 21. 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Ill/l INVENTOR. DONALD MCCONAUGHY WWTMrM HIS ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 18, 1952 D. Mcco Au 2,518,143

CONTAINER FOR WASHING s'rocxmcs Filed July 21, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR. DONALD MCCONAUGHY Patented Nov. 18, 1952 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE CONTAINER FOR WASHING STOCKINGS Application July 21, 1948, Serial No. 39,975

Claims. 1

The present invention relates to apparatus for washing clothing. More particularly, it has to do with a new and improved device for washing small articles of clothing such as stockings, for example, in a simple and highly effective manner.

In recent years, many women have adopted the practice of washing their stockings every evening before retiring. Although this custom has become widespread, no suitable device designed expressly for this and like purposes has been made available. As a result, washing operations of this type are almost universally carried out in a bathroom sink with consequences that are often a source of considerable annoyance to others.

It is an object of the invention, accordingly, to provide a novel device for washing small articles of clothing and the like such as stockings, for example, which is free from the undesirable features of the methods employed heretofore for this purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved washing apparatus which has no moving mechanical parts yet produces a highly effective washing effect.

These and other objects of the invention may be attained by providing a washing device comprising separable portions adapted to be assembled together to form a closed container of suitable size to accommodate the articles to be washed. The container is provided with at least one transverse partition intermediate the ends thereof which is formed with vane-like passages. The vane-like passages are suitably designed to give a circular whirling motion to liquid in the container when the latter is shaken up and down.

In a preferred embodiment, the container comprises two parts each having a transverse partition containing vane-like passages. The vanelike passages in the transverse partitions are preferably oppositely directed so that a circular whirling motion is given to the contents of the container upon up and down shaking thereof.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a typical embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a washing device constructed according to the invention, partially broken away to show the details of construction;

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of one of the partitions in the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial perspective view in section, taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of a modified form of washing device utilizing a drum-like container for the articles to be washed.

In the representative embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the novel washing device of the invention is shown as an elongated container III, substantially oval in shape, and having a bottom member II and a top member I2. The bottom member II may be provided with a shouldered portion I3 at its upper end which is adapted to be snugly fitted within a corresponding annular recessed portion I4 in the top member I3, as shown. The bottom member I I may be provided with a suitable base I5 on which it is supported when not in use.

Mounted within the bottom member II is a transverse disc-like partition I6 provided with a circular array of vane-like elements H, as shown in greater detail in Fig. 2. The partition I6 may be provided with a shouldered portion I8 which is adapted to be snugly fitted into a corresponding shouldered portion I9 formed in the bottom member II. The partition I6 may be secured in the bottom member II in any suitable manner as, for example, by means of cooperating threads 20 and one or more grooves 2I may be formed in the upper face of the partition I6, as shown in Fig. 2, to facilitate the removal thereof when desired. Also, the transverse partition I6 may be provided with a substantially conical member 22 which serves to deflect fluid in th container Ill to the vane ll as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

Within the upper member I2 is mounted another transverse partition Ifi' which is identical with the transverse partition I6 and corresponding parts of the former have been designated by corresponding primed reference characters. Preferably, the transverse partitions l6 and I6 are located a sufficient distance apart to form a chamber therebetween that will be large enough to accommodate the article or articles of clothing that are to be washed.

As shown in greater detail in Fig. 3, the vanes I! in the transverse member I6 should be disposed at a suitable angle so that when the direction of motion of the container I0 is re versed from upwardly to downwardly while the container H9 is being shaken, liquid therein Will move upwardly and will be deflected toward the right in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 3. The partition I6 produces a similar rotary motion of the contents of the container It when the direction of motion of the container I is reversed from downwardly to upwardly during the shaking thereof. By virtue of this construction, the liquid entering the chamber between the partitions IS and I6 is given a rotary whirling motion which produces vigorous agitation of the articles to be washed and results in a highly effective cleaning action.

In operation, the top member I2 is removed and a quantity of suitable cleaning solution, such as a soap solution, is poured into the bottom member I I. In a modification designed specifically for washing a pair of ladies stockings, for example, about a cup and a half of soapy water may be sufficient. The stockings, or other articles to be washed, are then placed on the top of the transverse partition I6 and the top member I2 is inserted over the bottom "member II. The container I0 is then grasped between the hands and shaken vigorously as if it were a cocktail shaker, -for example. -As pointed out above, each time the container H) is moved upwardly, the soap solution enters the space between the transverse partitions IE and 16' with a vigorous whirling motion, and each time the container 10 is moved downwardly, liquid passing through thetransverse partition I6 is given a similar whirling motion. As a result, the stockings within the container are vigorously agitated in the soap solution and may be effectively cleaned in a relatively short period of time.

The top member 12 is then removed, the soapy water pour'ed'out and clean rinsing water added. The top member 12 is then replaced and the container 10 is again shaken for a "sufiicie'nt period of time to rinse the stockings and remove the soil'ed soapy water therefrom.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily apparent that the invention provides a simple yet highly efiective device for washin small articles of'clothin'g, such as stockings, for example. It is handy 'to use and eliminates the undesirable consequences resulting heretofore from'washing'sin'all articles'of clothing, such as stockings, for example, in a bathroom sink.

It will be understood that the washing device of the invention may be made in any desired shape 'or form. Instead of the oval shape of the modification illustrated in the drawings, the washing devicemight be made cylindrical or in any'other desired shape. Also, the vaned partitions [6a and 16a might be secured to opposite ends of a cylindrical member 23 -to form a drum-like container for the articles as shown in Fig. 4. The drum-like container so formed might be "designed to fit within and to be retained in position by the cooperating container members II and I2. One end of the drum-like container (i.e., the transverse partition I611) might be made removable'to' facilitate the insertion of article's'to be washed.

While the novel washing device of the invention may be manufactured out of any suitable materials, it lends itself particularly to the use of plastics. In such case, colored plastics may be employed and the device may be made in pastel shades to match bathroom fixtures, or in any other shades that may be particularly appealing to women. Obviously, the device may be made of other suitable materials, such as aluminum, for example.

The specific embodiment described above, by way of illustration, is not intended to -be-in any way restrictive since it will be readily apparent 4 that modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A washing device for small garments and the like comprising in combination, a plurality of mating portions which when mated form an elongated liquid tight chamber within said device, each of the portions forming an end of said device having a smoothly curved interior wall surface, and a hollow, garment receiving container removably mounted in fixed position in said chamber intermediate the ends thereof, said container having perforated opposite ends forming longitudinally spaced apart perforated transverse partitions in said device, whereby upon shaking said device liquid within said device is adapted to pass from one end thereof to the other through said garment receiving container.

2. A washing device for small garments and the like comprising in combination, a plurality of mating portions which when mated form an elongated liquid tight chamber within said device, each of the portions forming an-end of said device having a smoothly curved interior wall surface, and a pair of longitudinally spaced apart, transverse partitions forming a garment receiving compartment intermediate the ends of said device, each of said .partitions being .provided with a radial array of closed conduits extending therethrough longitudinally of the device, each of said conduits being relatively-elongated in theradial direction and being relatively narrow in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to said radial direction.

3. A washing device for small garments and the like comprising in combination, a .plurality of mating portionswhich when'mated form'an elongated liquid tight chamber within said device, each of the portions forming an end of said device having a smoothly curved interior wall surface, and a pair of longitudinally spaced apart, transverse partitions secured to the interior Walls of said end portions, respectively, and forming a garment receivingcompartment intermediate the ends of said device, each-ofsaid partitions having a substantially radial array of longitudinally extending closed conduits formed therein-each-o'f said conduits being relatively elongated in the radial direction andbeing relatively narrow in-a direction substantially perpendicular to said radial direction. I

4. A washing device for small garments and the like comprising incombination, a plurality'of mating portions which when mated form an elongated liquid tight chamber within said device, each of the portions forming an end of said device having a smoothly curved interior wall surface, a pair of longitudinally spaced apart, transverse partitions secured to the interior walls of'sa'id end portionsre'spectively, and forming a garment receiving compartment intermediate the endsof said device, each of said partitions having a substantially radial arrayof longitudinally extending closed conduits "formed therein, each 'of "said conduits "being relatively elongated in the radial direction and being relatively narrow in a direction substantially perpendicular to said radial direction, and substantially conical defiectormembers secured to-said partitions outside of said garment receiving compartment with their bases locatedat the centers of the'arrays'of conduits'therein and with 'their apices'directed away from said compartment.

, -5. A washing device for small garmentsand the like comprising in combination, a plurality of mating portions which when mated form an elongated liquid tight chamber within said device, each of the portions forming an end of said device having a smoothly curved interior wall surface, and a hollow garment receiving container removably mounted in fixed position in said chamber intermediate the ends thereof, said container having opposite ends forming longitudinally spaced apart transverse partitions in said device having substantially radial arrays of longitudinally extending closed conduits formed therein, each of said conduits being relatively elongated in the radial direction and being relatively narrow in a direction substantially perpendicular to said radial direction, whereby upon shaking said device liquid within the device is adapted to pass from one end thereof to the other through said garment receiving container.

DONALD MC CO'NAUGHY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 49,176 Tilden Aug. 1, 1865 1,312,569 Paige Aug. 12, 1919 1,878,924 Will Sept. 20, 1932 15 1,910,900 Johnson May 23, 1933 2,160,328 Durham May 30, 1939 

